How bad could things get?

Researchers at NOAA use supercomputers to simulate the effects of climate change on hurricanes. From 2016 to 2035, they project more hurricanes in general and 11 percent more Category 3, 4, and 5 hurricanes. By the end of the century, they expect 20 percent more of the worst storms, some with winds above 190 mph. The flooding from hurricanes will also worsen as sea levels rise because of global warming. Sea levels are rising faster than at any time in the past 2,000 years, yet even with that in mind, geological scientist Andrea Dutton says, “projections give you a false sense of security.” A crisis might look decades away, “but in reality, it can happen much faster.”